Breastfeeding, by mums, for mums

by Jenny Ingram, Debbie Johnson

Breastfeeding, by mums, for mums Real Baby Milk DVD (12 minutes), 6 [pounds sterling]

Real Baby Milk is a community interest company in Cornwall--a social enterprise aiming to promote breastfeeding and ensure women have access to the right information and support. Started by a mother whose own difficult experience of breastfeeding her first baby led her to try to improve the help and information available for others locally, this DVD aims to inform other mothers in an engaging and friendly way.

This short film explains the importance of early skin-to-skin contact in initiating breastfeeding, and gives a step-by-step approach to positioning and attachment. It shows mothers talking about their early breastfeeding experiences, where to go for good breastfeeding support and how important this was for them in helping them to carry on breastfeeding. Set in the midst of a Cornish breastfeeding support group, it is 'mother-friendly' and has a relaxed feel, and could be an effective addition to antenatal breastfeeding classes.

Concentrating on positioning and attachment as the basis of avoiding breastfeeding problems, there is a good animation sequence of the best position for the nipple in the baby's mouth to ensure pain-free feeding. It is similar in content to the video Breastfeeding: a guide to successful positioning made 10 years ago, with the addition of some lovely sequences of a newborn baby, placed skin to skin with her mother, rooting and finding the breast.

The film highlights the need for good local support networks, and urges mothers to ask for help and support for breastfeeding from healthcare professionals, support groups and other mothers. The challenge is to ensure that good help really is available for mothers everywhere. Contacts for useful organisations are included at the end of the film, with the surprising omission of the National Childbirth Trust.

The DVD could be used by healthcare professionals, peer support groups and mothers as the information is clearly presented and easily accessible--we can highly recommend it.

Reviewed by: Jenny Ingram, Debbie Johnson

Research fellow and research midwife

Centre for Child and Adolescent Health,

University of Bristol